SMART Technologies Begins Shipping Revolutionary SMART kapp

Groundbreaking replacement for the dry-erase board is now available

CALGARY, Nov. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - SMART Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SMT) (TSX: SMA) is now shipping its innovative SMART kapp^™ digital capture board through select channel partners. A remarkable transformation from the dull, outdated dry-erase board or flip chart, SMART kapp combines true ease of use with the ability to share and save work in real time, on any device, anywhere in the world.  The many customers who already placed pre-orders after its award-winning debut at InfoComm will be among the first to receive SMART kapp. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141114/158773)

Recently industry analysts Frost & Sullivan honored SMART kapp with its 2014 New Product Innovation Award in the Interactive Whiteboard Market. "True innovation is when a company creates something it immediately sees a need for, and then develops a solution to meet that need," said Rob Arnold, program manager, Unified Communications and Collaboration at Frost & Sullivan. "SMART Technologies has demonstrated its vision to improve upon a much loved collaboration tool and reinvent it for the modern day. A practical human approach and an in-depth understanding of the needs of everyday collaboration have enabled SMART Technologies to maintain its pioneering and market-leading status in the collaboration market."

Patrick Neeman, director of Product Design at Apptio, and his user-interface team have been using SMART kapp, in their collaborative workspace. "The ability to take the ideas you sketched and share them is really powerful. People have a lot of trouble visualizing an idea unless somebody sketches it for them; they have to see it before they know that it's right," Neeman said. "SMART kapp will be really, really good for that, because not only will you have your idea on the board, but you can take it away, go back to your desk and say 'this is what we mean.'" 

SMART kapp is lightweight, easy to install, and a true plug-and-play solution.  Users simply hang up their board and can use SMART kapp immediately - no need for IT integration or internet connections. SMART kapp enables users to:

• Use real-time sharing by inviting remote participants to view content on smartphones, tablets and computers as it happens using any browser
• Easily save and share anything written on the board in JPEG or PDF formats
• Automatically share snapshots to shared accounts like Evernote^™®or Google Drive^™ or OneDrive^™
• Write and erase on the sleek surface without ever staining it

"When I arrived at SMART in October of 2012, I saw the need for a new piece of collaboration technology that would be as simple to use as a dry-erase board but with the benefit of digitally capturing, saving and sharing information," said Neil Gaydon, President and CEO, SMART Technologies. "We've achieved those goals and more with SMART kapp."

SMART kapp builds on over a decade of SMART's research and innovation in proprietary DViT^® optical touch systems and digital ink technology. This includes 16 issued U.S. Patents relating to kapp technology in a portfolio of families with 57 issued patents in 12 countries worldwide and more than 10 patent applications pending. Recently, SMART has filed patent applications relating both to kapp's system and operation, as well as the products' design.  We continue to document and protect key innovations in kapp's ongoing development.

For a complete specifications, and videos of SMART kapp in action, visit www.SMARTkapp.com.

Pricing & Availability

SMART kapp is available immediately in a 42" diagonal size priced at US $899 MSRP. A larger size board will be available in 2015.

SMT – M

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About SMART Technologies

SMART Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SMT, TSX: SMA) is a world leader in collaboration solutions that are redefining the way the world works and learns. We are an innovator in interactive touch technologies and software that inspire collaboration in both education and enterprises around the globe. To learn more, visit smarttech.com.

Reader's advisory
Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information or statements. By their very nature, forward-looking information and statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking information and statements will not be achieved. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to vary materially from the forward-looking information or statements. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking information or statements. Any forward-looking information and statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

©2014 SMART Technologies.  All third-party and product and company names are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.  To view a list of SMART Trademarks please visit our Trademarks and Guidelines page.

 Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.

SOURCE SMART Technologies Inc.

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